President Maithripala Sirisena made these remarks at a meeting held with the Islamic Civil Society leaders at the Official residence of the President today (6). The Islamic Civil Society leaders stressed that the traditional Islamic community no way accepts such barbaric acts and the traditional Islamic people live in harmony and cooperation with the other religious communities.

Due to the April 21st incident the public has a suspicious eyes on the whole Islamic community and they have fallen in to a very embarrassing state, the leaders explained to the President and suggestions were presented in order to build peace and reconciliation between all ethnic groups.

Thus they extended their fullest cooperation to the security forces’ operations to eliminate terrorism and expressed their strong dedications to control and cease every possibility for emergence of extremism. They added that in order to eradicate certain religious myths that prevail among certain Islamic devotees, the true version should be propagated to them to become more realistic and programs regarding this have already been commenced.

The Islamic Civil community was grateful for the President for taking the precise steps at this moment not letting any harm happen to the reputation of the public and mentioned that the reconciliation program carried on by President Sirisena since 2015 was of utmost value to maintain peace and reconciliation in the country in such a critical moment.